East Rutherford, N.J.—This is what we know about Vince Carter: At 32, he might not dunk as often or as spectacularly, might not make defenders flinch for fear of ending up posterized above some kid’s bed, might not have shoe companies claiming credit for the finish of a Frenchman’s career.

But dominance is not defined by the dunk. Merriam and Webster, they suggest “Commanding or controlling all others.” This, Carter can do.

He can average 20 points, five rebounds and five assists for a season. He can hit game-tying and game-winning last-second shots in a single game. He can suit up for 80 of 82 -- sometimes with injuries he won’t admit bother him. And he can handle point guard duties on a team lacking a third player at the position. He has done those things before; he is likely to do them again. And yet popular perception was that one title had not been bestowed upon him: leader.

With Jason Kidd in Dallas and Richard Jefferson in Milwaukee, point guard Devin Harris might have become the Nets' future, but Carter had inherited the franchise. Ankle surgery right after the season ended, some rest and rehab, and then a phone call. And another. And another after that. And as many as needed until every Net had committed to practicing together in New Jersey daily during August, a full three weeks prior to the start of training camp.

Nine new faces began to become familiar, and three rookies began to develop. Carter, always one to tweak his game, found himself pushing harder, trying to establish the example for a team featuring six players yet to turn 24. Talking to them, telling them to ask questions, to pry, even before they knew who he was. Even before it was comfortable.

A surprise start (19-19) was undermined by a sub-par finish (15-29, including 3-12 in March), but by season’s end, the Nets – a popular pick to finish among the league’s worst teams – had won 34 games and remained in the playoff race deep into the schedule. Harris earned All-Star status, center Brook Lopez finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and fellow rookies Ryan Anderson and Chris Douglas-Roberts came on strong during the stretch. Amidst it all, Carter turned in one of his finest seasons, averaging 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting .385 on a team-leading 392 three-pointers and enabling Harris and Lopez to assert their developing offensive games.

“He’s an all-around player,” says Nets President Rod Thorn. “There are very few 20-point, five-rebound, five-assist players in this league; there are about five of them, total. And I think he added leadership to his core of skills this year. He became a leader, and that had a lot to do with how we played.”

The journey began with a suggestion at his 2008 exit meeting, when Carter told Coach Lawrence Frank he wanted to be “the next Penny Hardaway,” ready to help the team in any way he could. As training camp began, Frank reminded Carter of his question:

“L said, ‘Well, you remember in the summer, when you said, ‘Hey, I don’t mind playing point guard’? Well, now you’re one of the point guards.’”

The superstar gamely accepted the challenge, comfortable as Carter is with the ball in hands. Chasing smaller, quicker players wouldn’t be fun, but after practicing against Harris and backup point Keyon Dooling, Carter would be prepared. (With Harris and Orlando’s Jameer Nelson joining Dwyane Wade on this year’s All-Star Team, Dooling is 3-for-his-last-3 NBA stops in harassing practice opponents into All-Stars.) The duo’s inspired play pushed Carter to a new level, one where facilitating became the focus.

Stat: Carter nearly matched last season’s career-high 5.1 assists per game in two fewer minutes (36.8, down from 38.9).

Stat: Playing without Devin Harris 12 times this season, Carter upped his averages to 24.3 points and 6.5 assists in 40 minutes.

Stat: Carter dished a career-high 14 assists against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 9, a game after dropping 12 dimes on the Clippers. It was only the third time in his career he reached double-digit assist totals in consecutive games.

The 26 assists in two games also represent a career-high. Tossing in the seven Carter added in the Sacramento game on January 5 (Harris only logged 20 minutes), that total (33) makes for Carter’s best-ever three-game stretch as distributor, only rivaled by a 28-assist outburst (nine, nine and 10) from Jan. 26-29, 2005, shortly after he arrived in New Jersey via trade.

But perhaps his biggest assist was helping to ease the transition for the three rookies navigating their first NBA season. From Media Day forward, Carter was quick to publicly praise his young charges, even when he was couching admonishments within the compliments. Words were never negative, only matter-of-fact. And when words come from Vince Carter, rookies listen.

They have to. Can’t help it. Can’t get past the posterizer just wanting to stay in their ear, stay supportive. Sometimes at volume, though that’s usually in-game, when there isn’t time for teaching, only for impact, only for “Don’t say sorry, just don’t do it again.”

The kids, they want it. You can see it in the disappointed contortions of Lopez’s face when his play lags behind his potential or Douglas-Roberts’ vow that his late-season surge is only the beginning. Carter gave them room to grow. Seeded the situation with suggestion, then tended patiently.

“The biggest thing for rookies, in my opinion, is you know that they’re doing better when they’re asking questions,” Carter says. “As they learn, you can see it developing. With Ryan, he was really slow-developing at first, just couldn’t get a grasp of it, but then all of a sudden, he took off. Brook, he got the opportunity early and then started to struggle a little bit, but he was willing to ask questions and just wanted to learn. CDR was the same way, also. Next thing you know, they’re stopping practice and asking questions. It was great to see.”

Great for the fans. Great for the organization. Great for Carter’s closing window. He has superstar seasons remaining, yet the focus is on the future. Elevating the young players assures Carter a quicker return to the playoffs. Less time to think about the vacations he’s never been good at planning. Less weight to carry if everyone can help hold up the whole. Less focus on individual recognition he’s already achieved and more on leading others to that level.

It’s knowing not only when to delegate, but also when to step in. Carter normally corners that market on last-second shots, but Harris was a scorer this season, in line for attempts. And Carter deferred the moment, more than once. Harris made his first game-winning buzzer-beater -- on any level -- against the Pacers in December. Missed the next, in January against the Raptors. Made one against the Sixers, missed against the Celtics.

Carter still got his – two game-winners against Toronto, one against Atlanta, a last-second miss in Boston – while chalking Devin’s on the experience board. Harris has that behind him now. Knows he can do it. Next season starts, and when the seconds are ticking away, teams will have a whole other set of options to worry about.

Playoffs were the goal, but progress was the reality. “Miles and miles away,” he says. “From where we started until where we are now, it’s a big difference,” he says. “Because of our young guys,” he says.

Carter talks about fine-tuning his game this summer. In sunny Florida. Knows that he’s older, has to put more time in. Has to keep that J wet like the Atlantic, free like T-shirts. Has to keep the communication crackling.

“I’m going to make sure that I reach out to the guys throughout, work out together,” he says. “Just prepare as if we’re committed to what we’re trying to do. That’s where it starts.”

Vince Carter will finish.

This we know.

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